Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews, "I'm Alive"

Apparently, Kenny Chesney really believes in his new single, “I’m Alive.” Not only is it one of the new songs on his Greatest Hits collection, it can also be found on his previous album, Lucky Old Sun. Furthermore, it was already recorded by Willie Nelson for Moment of Forever, the album that Chesney co-produced with Buddy Cannon.

Co-written by Chesney and sung with Dave Matthews, “I’m Alive” is a laid back acoustic affair that simply celebrates being alive. The song’s title may suggest that this will be another one of Chesney’s party anthems, but it is, instead, another one of his efforts to be . At least, this time, the lyrics are poetic enough to be interesting, if not still putting on the air of moodiness that Chesney likes to exude: “It’d be easy to add up all the pain and/All the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames/Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain/But not me/I’m alive.”

Much like Chesney’s prior duet with Mack McAnally, “I’m Alive” is very easy on the ears, with its acoustic coffee shop vibe, but still lacks a good enough delivery for a true connection to be made, both by Chesney or the famed Dave Matthews, in this case. While Matthews performance is a bit more engaging than Chesney’s, the two singers still manage to sound both so lethargic that this song may work as good background filler for a dinner party, but not as a memorable tune in everyday life. The instrumentation is less cluttered on Kenny Chesney’s version of the song than Willie Nelson’s, but Nelson at least sounds like he means what he’s singing, instead of sounding as though he’s trying to convince himself of it.

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15 Comments

If I had my druthers…Kenny Chesney would not be singing on this at all. At least when Dave comes in the song has a little life about it because he has a unique voice! Chesney does nothing for this little boring tune! And he keeps on winning entertainer every year. He gets rewarded for throwing big drunkfest. He needs to take that break he keeps saying he’s going to be taking. Not soon enough for me!

I would have to agree with the assessment above – Kenny seems to kind of skate through this one, more so than some of his other “reflective” songs, like “Better as a Memory” or “I Might Get Over You.” I do like the Dave Matthews verse, his voice sounds as good as ever on this one.

Where do I start? I like many of your songs, but——- Kenny get some sleeves. You might make the teen girls like you but at some point you should grow up. Do you think Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings had personal trainers, tighty tanks and look at me pants suits?? Be the kind of country musician that George Strait and Alan Jackson would hang out with and respect.

There’s something about the vibe of this song that seems familiar to me. I don’t know where I feel like I’ve heard it before.

Anyway, the mood of this song is truly strange. I can’t really explain how it makes me feel. I don’t really like it, but it intrigues me so much that I can’t help but like it a little bit. I’m probably not even making sense.

I used this song at my dads funeral, it is so touching and fitting. Really if you think about it, it is the first day of the rest of his life. This is my new favorite song. Stop being such haters!!! Life is too short!!